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Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
NewOrleansSaints.com,
Tuesday, January 05, 2010 - 3:50 PM


New Orleans Saints rookie punter Thomas Morstead has been named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts during the season finale against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Morstead, a 6-4, 225-pound product of Southern Methodist University, was selected by the Saints in the fifth-round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

On Sunday Morstead had a season-high nine punts for 417 yards for a 46.3 average, with a 42.3 net average. Of his nine punts, seven were placed inside the Panthers’ 20-yard line. He had two punts downed at the Carolina 9 (neither was returned), one fair caught at the Panthers’ 12, a punt downed at the Carolina 4, a punt that was fielded at the Panthers’ 16 that was returned for five yards, a 55-yard effort with the Saints backed up deep in their own territory, a punt that was fielded at the Carolina 14 and returned for 0 yards and a punt that bounced out-of-bounds at the Carolina 11-yard line.

This marks the second time that Morstead has been named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week, having also earned the award in the Saints’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in game 10 (11/22/2009).

New Orleans Saints - Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

I understood the pick but never really liked it. But I am really warming up to this kid.

RaginCajun83

I can remember people wanting to storm the facility with pitchforks cause they had traded up for a punter, looks like a smart move now. Just wondering if they might let him kick field goals since Hartly hasn't been the same the last couple weeks

Danno

Still a bad trade up. Two picks for a punter is dumb.

The arguement was never about whether or not Morstead would be a good punter, it was about burning 2 picks on the least important position on an NFL team in a draft where we only had 4 picks..

xan

Given how terrible our special teams have been this season, any player who can give us an upgrade at a top 5 level is worth two draft picks. Field position for our team is an essential component of post season play, and if he delivers, he'd be worth a 4th round pick!

Danno

He's ranked almost dead last in every punting category in the NFL so far, but even if he was top 10, or top 5, its not worth 2 draft picks in a 4 pick draft.

He looks like a promising punter, but in my opinion, it was a stupid move.

ScottF

I agree he is worth the move up, as it was two late picks, not like the year before with Pittman.

However, having your punter be player of the week seems to be a sure-fire indicator that you lost the game

strato

The punter is very crucial to a teams success ..im glad we have Moorstead..it was worth it to me..and dont forget he kicksoff as well..so he's doing double duty...

Danno

The Punter is less crucial to a team's success than ANY other position on the field. Well, maybe long snapper is.

darstep

I hope that we never need his player of the week performance ever again. As slow and as stagnant as our offense has been of late, I'm kind of glad we don't have a guy dribbling and muffing 20-30 yard punts. I agree, two picks were a lot.

Danno

Be careful, you'll be labeled as a Thomas Morstead hater.